U.S. Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency

The United States welcomes the
Director General’s report on the Application of Safeguards in the Middle
East. This agenda item reflects our
continuing effort to strive for a Middle East free of all weapons of mass
destruction and their means of delivery.
This is an important and achievable goal, but not one that can be
reached quickly or without significant progress toward comprehensive peace in
the region. As we have repeatedly noted,
building confidence and a constructive atmosphere on these issues, including
direct engagement among the regional parties, remains critical to advancing
these goals.

The United States remains committed
to working with the states of the region to convene a conference on a Middle
East zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. We continue to work with Russia, the United Kingdom,
the United Nations and the conference facilitator, Finnish Under Secretary
Jaako Laajava, to start a dialogue among regional parties to reach consensus on
a framework that can lead to a successful conference. We hope that consultations between the
regional parties can begin soon so that the differences that remain regarding
the conference can be addressed in a constructive manner. WMD-Free Zones cannot be imposed from the
outside; there is no substitute for direct engagement among the states of the
region if we are to move this process forward.

The 2012 General Conference
Resolution on the Application of Safeguards in the Middle East, GC(56)/RES/15,
contains an operative paragraph calling on all states in the region to fulfill
in good faith international obligations and commitments relating to safeguards
and to cooperate fully with the IAEA.
Regrettably, not all states in the region have done so. The two outstanding cases of noncompliance in
the region are of serious and continuing concern and clear obstacles to the
achievement of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.

With this is mind, we note that the Director
General’s report addresses the issue of universal application of safeguards agreements in the region, but does
not address the importance of compliance with those agreements in building
regional confidence. Noncompliance by
certain regional parties with their existing IAEA safeguards obligations continues
to undermine efforts toward a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction,
and we hope future reports will address this serious issue.

As we look toward the General Conference next week, we hope
that member states can once again return to a consensus approach on Middle East
safeguards issues. These issues can only be advanced through sincere dialogue
and engagement among the states in the region. They themselves must build the confidence and
trust needed to make progress on these important issues.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

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